SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING DYSFUNCTIONS IN THE INTESTINES AND RECTUM THAT ADAPT TO THE ANATOMIC FORM AND STRUCTURE OF DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A family of barrel structures is provided in a kit. Each barrel structure is differently sized and configured for advancement into anal canals of different anatomic morphologies. Instructions are provided for using the barrel structures to treat an individual. The instructions instruct assessing an anatomic morphology of an anal canal of an individual to be treated and selecting one of the barrel structures based upon the assessed anatomic morphology. Each barrel structure carries an electrode sized and configured to be coupled to a source of tissue ablation energy to be applied through the electrode to form a lesion. Each barrel structure includes a transparent side wall visualized by a direct line of sight from an end portion of the first barrel structure. The instructions instruct inserting the selected barrel structure into the anal canal and visualizing by the direct line of sight through the transparent side wall of the selected barrel structure the dentate line and the targeted tissue region. The instructions instruct, while visualizing, aligning the electrode in a desired location in the targeted tissue region above the dentate line, advancing the electrode to penetrate tissue at or near a sphincter, and applying energy through the electrode to create a lesion in the sphincter.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1-6. -6. (canceled)
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7. A device for treating tissue in the anal canal to treat fecal incontinence, the device comprising a
a handle portion; -
a tubular barrel extending from the handle portion and sized and configured for insertion into the anal canal through an anal orifice, the barrel having a proximal portion and a distal portion and terminating in a blunt tip, the barrel further including an array of openings at the distal portion, the array of openings arranged along an arcuate segment of the barrel; an array of needle electrodes with penetrating tips, the needle electrodes advanceable from a first position within the barrel to a second extended position so the penetrating tips extend radially from the barrel to pierce sphincter muscle above the dentate line; and an actuator for advancing the needle electrodes, the needle electrodes mounted along the arcuate segment of the barrel, the barrel enabling visualization of the target tissue within the anal canal, and the needle electrodes applying energy to the sphincter muscle to treat tissue in the anal canal to treat fecal incontinence. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A device for treating tissue in the anal canal to treat fecal incontinence, the device comprising a
a handle portion; -
a tubular barrel extending from the handle portion and sized and configured for insertion into the anal canal through an anal orifice, the barrel having a proximal portion and a distal portion and terminating in a blunt tip, the barrel further including an array of openings at the distal portion, the array of openings arranged along an arcuate segment of the barrel, the tubular barrel defining a first surface and a second surface, the handle portion extending at an angle from the first surface, and the arcuate segment extending about the first surface; an array of needle electrodes with penetrating tips, the needle electrodes advanceable from a first position within the barrel to a second extended position so the penetrating tips extend radially from the barrel in a curved fashion to pierce sphincter muscle above the dentate line; and an actuator for advancing the needle electrodes, the needle electrodes mounted along the arcuate segment of the barrel enabling visualization of the target tissue within the anal canal, and the needle electrodes advanceable to the second position so tips of the needles are arranged in an arcuate fashion, the needle electrodes applying energy to the sphincter muscle to treat tissue in the anal canal to treat fecal incontinence. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification